Resource Directory for People With Vision Loss
A service of the Massachusetts Association for the Blind
799 West Boylston Street
Worcester, MA 01606
Agencies
American Optical Company
14 Mechanic Street
Southbridge, MA 01550
508-765-9711
Provides a full range of optical products for individuals who have normal vision or are visually impaired, including low vision aids, monoplex eye prosthesis and ophthalmic lenses.
Audio Journal
172 Lincoln Street
Worcester, MA 01605
508-797-1117; 508-752-0557 Listener call-in line
Radio reading service for visually impaired and print handicapped persons. Seventeen hours of daily programming includes: local newspapers and publications, national magazines, best sellers, and a variety of other information. Accessed by a special receiver or cable channels.
Catholic Charities
15 Ripley Street
Worcester, MA 01610
508-798-0191
Homemaker services, counseling, and emergency assistance.
Center for Living and Working, Inc.
484 Main Street, Suite 345
Worcester, MA 01608
508-798-0350 (Voice/TTY)
Independent living programs. Information and referral pertaining to disability issues, skills training, peer counseling, advocacy and service coordination to people who have disabilities. Skills training may involve issues regarding personal care service, activities of daily living, budgeting, benefits, equipment, communication, transportation, housing, social and recreational opportunities.
DVS
(Descriptive Video Service)
125 Western Avenue
Boston, MA 02134
1-800-333-1203
Describes the visual elements of a movie - the action, characters, locations, costumes, and sets - without interfering with the movie's dialogue or sound effects so you get to follow all the action.
Elder Home Care
241 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01603
508-756-1545
Case management, information and referral, senior companions, respite care, health assessments, protective services, crisis intervention and emergency services. Contracted Services: homemaker, chore, personal care, home-delivered meals, and social day care. Eligibility based on income, age (60 and over), and frailty.
Executive Office of Elder Affairs
425 Pleasant Street
Worcester, MA 01609
508-799-1230
Information and referral service, individual advocacy, Notary Public (no charge), ages 60 and over, resident of City of Worcester.
Family Services of Central Massachusetts
31 Harvard Street
Worcester, MA 01609
508-756-4646
Homemaker services, counseling services (marital, couple, individual, family).
MAPVI
Mass. Association for Parents of the Visually Impaired
192 Maple Street
Needham, MA 02492
Promotes and provides information to help parents, professionals, and educators meet the special needs of visually impaired and blind children. Newsletter - The Sighted Guide.
Massachusetts Association for the Blind
51 Harvard Street
Worcester, MA 01609
508-791-8237; Fax 799-8921
Information and Advocacy Services: Information referral, consultation and advocacy. Telephone Tape (791-6911) - recorded information on various topics of interests to people who cannot read ordinary newsprint. Volunteer Services: readers, drivers, visitors, clerical aides and shoppers. Education Services: community and professional education. The Store: independent living aids (time pieces, magnifiers, kitchen, sewing, writing and recreational products). Recreational Activities: shopping trips, bingo luncheons, dinner/theatre; candlepin bowling league and crafts classes.
Massachusets Commission for the Blind
340 Main Street - Room 980
Worcester, MA 01608
508-754-1148; 1-800-392-6450 Ext. 0522 (Mass. Only)
The Commission serves legally blind people of all ages. Services include: instruction in mobility, braille, typing, activities of daily living, vocational rehabilitation. Ask for a free informative booklet.
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commision
17 Mechanic Street
P.O. Box 8249
Worcester, MA 01614
508-754-1757
Vocational rehabilitation services.
Memorial Diabetes Center
119 Belmont Street
Worcester, MA 01605
508-793-7634
A learning center for people with diabetes, their families, and health care professionals.
Memorial Foundation for the Blind
51 Harvard Street
Worcester, MA 01609
508-791-8237
Funding organization for persons with vision loss.
NYNEX Center for Individuals with Disabilities
251 Locke Drive
Marlboro, MA 01752
1-800-974-6006 (Voice/TTY)
Program available in Massachusetts that offers special telephone equipment to blind, deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind, and vision, speech, or mobility impaired individuals. Depending on income level, equipment may be available free of charge or at a reduced rate.
Office of Handicapped Affairs
455 Main Street, City Hall, Room 109
Worcester, MA 01608
508-799-1071
Information and referral, advocacy.
RTA Paratransit Service
Operated by RTA Transit Services, Inc.
287 Grove Street
Worcester, MA 01605
508-752-9283 (Scheduling & Cost Information)
1-800-499-6384 (Registration)
Provides transporation for unlimited purposes to individuals eligible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and to medical appointments for elders sixty (60) years of age or older. If you are ADA eligible, this RTA Paratransit Service will take you from any origin within the City of Worcester to any destination within Worcester and within 3/4 of a mile along the RTA Fixed Route Corridor. For those over 60 residing in Worcester, there are van rides and specially priced taxi trips to medical appointments, as well as bus and van shuttles for grocery shopping.
Vision Foundation, Inc.
818 Mount Auburn Street
Watertown, MA 02172
617-926-4232; 1-800-852-3029 (Mass Only)
Fax 617-926-1412; TTY 617-926-0290
Support, information and referral for people who are visually impaired or newly blind. Local self-help groups in Framingham, Marlboro, Natick and Worcester (call Bea Morris at 508-485-3369). Services include: individual advocacy, consultation, resources in special media. Home rehabilitation training for visually impaired persons (non legally blind elders), buddy telephone program, AIDS project and in-house volunteer program. Visually Impaired Persons Employment Group (VIPEG).
Vision Resources Library
3 Randolph Street
Baylies Lower
Canton, MA 02021
1-800-827-7772 (Mass Only)
Source for books in braille and large print.
Worcester Host Lions Club
P.O. Box 521
Worcester, MA 01606
508-853-2379
Central Referral Source for all area Lions Clubs. Considers requests for assistance for visual and hearing impaired persons.
Worcester Webster Square Lions Club
43 Monadnock Street
Worcester, MA 01609
508-742-7345
Low Vision Evaluation
Fallon Clinic Eye Service
370 Lunenburg Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-345-7398
Crown Point Eye Associates
76 Summer Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-345-3556
Beverly Health Care Birchwood Center
1199 John Fitch Highway
Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-345-0146
Leominster Optometric Associates
292 N. Main Street
Leominster, MA 01453
978-537-5546
Nashoba Vision Associates
Main Street
Groton, MA 01450
978-448-5172